2011...thanks for the memories! Now Leave!

Happy Holidays Friends!
Christmas is just around the corner which means another year is about to end. 2011 has been a year and a half (then some). What a year it has been. How to describe this year...well see-saw, roller-coasterish, out-n-back....I guess a little of all.
There have been great joys, break-ups, reconciliations , depressions, injuries, flab, great friends and re-birth!
Yeah what a year!.
As for the OFG's running...I started well, slumped in late spring, rejuvenated in the summer and hit a good stride in the fall and winter (so-far).  I managed 20 events so far with 1 more on NY's eve.
The OFG race series went well with old faces and new alike. The 5th (omg) Freeze Your Snowballs Off 10k is just a little over a month away. Seems to be the most popular of the two especially with the ladies! (go figure)
2011 good-bad-and ugly?  2011 adventures in life..yeah that's it!!!
I've learned more about myself both  good and bad this year.  I've learned more about people and life in general.  Heck life is GOOD!  I hope I've been able to be there for my friends like they have been for me.
Thank ALL of you from the bottom of my heart!
I hope I've given you a reason to smile, chuckle, or to laugh out loud!  We ALL need to take time and just laugh at ourselves.  We get wrapped up in life's tribulations and loose sight of the simple pleasures.
So 2011....thank you now screw you..it's time for 2012!
Here's to you my FRIENDS!  May 2012 be kind and fruitful! May your bodies relax and heal,  May your voices sing and  your hearts  be filled with joy!  I raise my goblet to you my friends. Thank you for being you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Shuffle on Friends
The Old Fat Guy

Turkeys and Friends

RUNNING BUDDIES.....FRIENDS

 

              

I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels during the Holiday season.  I am BLESSED to know Each and All of you and I want to thank you for all you have given me throughout the years.  You have given me a little of yourselves and I hope that has made me a better person.  Thank you for your kindness, your support and your friendship.  I can only hope to return a fraction of all that I have received from each of you!

Enjoy the holiday...eat ,drink, eat some more. Get slow so I can catch you at the next race we share.

Stay safe...healthy and happy!

Shuffle on

The Old Fat Guy

Jeff 

 

 

Jeff "JC" Campbell

 

Warm...Cold,,,Windy....Bravery and Friends!

Shamrock weekend at Virginia Beach was a blast both figuratively and literary.  

Let me say first and foremost that the "Spitfire"  deserves her own finishers medal. Her little dog and my friend Oscar was one sick feller when we left Friday afternoon. Janet was very torn between staying and nursing Oscar and supporting me at my races.  The little wiener dog was showing some signs of improvement when she decide to leave him in my parents care.  It was a brave sacrifice and a loving jester to me.  Thanks Janet for being there and thanks to my Mom and Dad for taking on care for Oscar and putting up with Janet's phone calls!   Oh by the way Oscar seems to be doing fine!
The trip down to Virginia Beach was uneventful enough....a little traffic jam and some unseasonably warm weather for March.  It was nice to hangout on the strip in shorts and a tee. A huge yellow moon lit the ocean that night.
Saturday morning  we awoke to warm but breezy weather. Janet gave me some news that she might want to go home if Oscar was still sick.....this sort of threw a little wrench into the works..do I do the 8k at competitive speed and go home or blow my wad and still do the half.  What to do!  Well I'll just go 3/4 speed just in case. ( good thing)....cause the little feller improved and we were able to stay for the half. Thanks Janet! Loveya!
The only thing Sunday's weather had in common with Saturday was the breeze...only magnified!  The 43 degree temperature and 30 mph wind made my body cringe! With only shorts and a 1/4  zip top  to cover the OFG the race couldn't start fast enough. With each blast of wind it felt like another layer of skin had blown off.  I had stopped by to meet up with the "M&M" boys and walk with them to start... the brief rest bit from the wind was a blessing, but it did make it harder to head back out  into the sudden Arctic conditions.
After reaching the corrals and wishing my pals luck it was time to hunker down for a while...meet some very  kind and warm new fiends.  It's always good to get to know your corral mates and exchange training/racing stories.  Most of my surrounding mates were female with very positive attitudes.  It was amazing how upbeat everyone was in the cold conditions.
Finally our corral was released and let the weaving begin!  Now let me say I know I'm not as fast as I was, and no means do I want to offend the walkers but jeez did they make the first few miles feel like a game of red rover!  I think I eventually ran 15 miles with all the side to side stop and go running.  But maybe just maybe they actually helped! With all my "pickups"  it put me into a faster pace than I trained.  By the 4 mile mark I past the 2:30 pacer....by golly he usually passes me!  Felt good to make him eat my dust. I now had a goal....do not let the pacer guy repass!
Now I don't want to sound cocky but at one point I actually thought this was the easiest half I've ever done. That was miles 1 -8.  Miles 9 -12 were different.  Though physically I felt good....mentally I struggled.  I was afraid of completely bonking and not making it.  I took too many walk breaks during these miles with each restart  getting quite a bit harder. I wanted  to  refresh myself  to be able to run the boardwalk and oh keep that pace guy behind me! And I did!  The boardwalk was a breeze and I finished strong.  No pace guy in sight!  My 12th half was done and 20 minutes faster than last year!  Not bad for an OFG!
The Spitfire and I later joined the "M&M" boys for some seafood and "war" stories  A good time had by all!
Thanks to all the volunteers and staff of J and A racing and the fine people of Virginia beach..I'll be back next year!  And a big thanks Janet!
So now it's a little recovery time and then the next big race. Til then...
Shuffle on friends!
The OFG

Shamrock ahead...

Top O' (Bottom) da mornin' to Ya!

It's one week to go til the Shamrock Festival in Virginia Beach.....Am I ready?    How am I (my body) going to handle back to back races?   Is the new hotel going to have comfortable beds?  What's the weather going to be like?   These are all questions that almost everyone has had...even after hundreds of races the questions remain.  I guess its the anticipation of any race that keeps racing exciting.

This year I'll be doing the Dolphin Challenge...That's an 8k Sat morning and then the half marathon Sun. 

Like  the last few years I'm way behind in the mileage..yet I'm over twice  the amount of last year. So who knows what lies ahead next week.

I went out this morning on a 10 mile run.  A very hilly 10 mile run!  The run wasn't just to get the old body in some kind of reasonable shape...it was more for the mental aspect of it. It is rare that I go over 10 miles on a training run...in my head 10 miles of hills is worth at least 13 miles of flat roads.  If I can do this... a half should be a breeze! (Right!)
I was actually very pleased with the 10 (10.2 to be exact).  Though SLOW... Not only was it the longest workout on both time and distance, it was also the longest non walk break this year and the first 20 mile week. I have to be happy!  
So now with a little peace of mind...I think I'm sorta ready for "Da Beach".  Wish me luck gang!
So until the next blog...have a Happy St. Patrick's Day... and may the roads be kind to ya!
Shuffle on friends! 

Running JMU

Stepping out into the cool morning air Sat I felt that old feeling of race day.
Sat the Alpha Phi: Move your Phi'T 5k was held at JMU.  This would be my first race since entering my new age group (5#*^~#*!)  I really had no goal but to finish. I've been building base mileage but doing no speed work; this would be my first.
After arriving at JMU it took a while to find the registration/start area but with the help of a kind student I finally checked in. Being in the midst of a couple hundred college students really made me more aware of how old and fat I am! Oh to be young and lean again. At least I had dressed the part of a runner..(I can still do that)!
I the middle of the ever enlarging crowd I spotted the smiling  face of my friend Andi. We would be the sole representatives of the SVTC.
Now no offense to the organizers but this race was a bit too laid back. there were no numbers,the starting line was way to tight for the amount of runners and there be no official timing or award ceremony. But for the money it was a nice friendly little get together for charity.
Andi and I had  planned to run together...to pace each other and lend moral support, but with amount of participants and race chitters..we got separated and were on our own.
I held on to a much faster pace than I've been training for about half way through this 5k. After passing UREC and climbing the hill behind the convacation center I knew I was shot!  So began the walk/ run portion of the race. I never could settle into a comfortable pace from there.  My runs were fast(for me) but I couldn't maintain. Following a couple more climbs and what seemed like an endless section on Courrier Dr. the finish line finally arrived much to the contentment to my lungs. I broke the time I sub-consciously sat for myself and ran the fastest first-of-the-year 5k I've run in years. Gotta be happy with that. 
I waited but a few moments for Andi's finish and after a congratulatory hug we shared our thoughts on what we accomplished. I think we were both happy to be able to enjoy being athletic again.
Now its back on the road to build distance...The Shamrock festival at Va Beach less than 3 weeks way.


Wish the Old Fat Guy luck!
Shuffle on friends!

Cold Crazies

The "Snowballs" Crazies!

First off let me thank these fine souls for braving the cold and showing up on a bitterly cold day. This was definitely the coldest of all the "Freeze Your Snowballs" Off 10ks  so far. Secondly I want to thank my volunteers for lending a greatly appreciated hand  with the race.  Third  please ignore the date on the photo. It should read Jan 22 2011.

After a very hectic and nerve wrecking week I 'd like to say I enjoyed the race, the turnout. and the help. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves, thawed out and their legs recovered from my rolling hills. For anyone interested...the race results can be found at www.valleytrack.org.

So now it's time for me to get into some kind of race shape; maybe enter a couple of local races in order to get ready for the Shamrock Half Marathon.  I'm doing the dolphin challenge where on Sat I "compete" in the 8k and on Sun the half marathon. Pray for the Old fat Guy!  I'll need it!

Well till the next time...

Shuffle on friends!

Frozen Fingers, Dear Friends..Warm Hearts

Time to step back and  take a breather.  It's been a hectic couple of weeks for the Old Fat Guy.
Hosting a 10k race sounds easy enough but getting everything in line is something else!  
The 4th "Freeze Your Snowballs Off" 10k was the 9th nice I've directed and its just as nerve wrecking as my first race.  Do I have help on the course, finish line, in the kitchen?  Do I have enough  food and drinks? Will anyone show up... the list goes on and on.
This year's version promised to be stressful with having more preregistered participants than before. A few coming from outside the state!  Word must be getting out or people just like the name of the race and or it's an opportunity to do an early year event. 
The last 2 weeks were strune with obstacles.  My help from work were unavailable.  the "Spitfire" and I were at odds again with her breaking up with me again.  On top of that snow was forecasted and bitter cold awaited for Saturday morning.
What is a race director to do?  Panic!  Yep that's what to do.....loose some sleep and fret over the next weather update and beg...that's right.. beg for help.   With just  a few days to go I sent out a desperate SOS!  To my pleads came forth a outpouring of help.  My wonderful friends quickly jumped in with offers of help. Each willing to give up their race in order to help the OFG! Let me say without shame that a tear or two was shed. I was touched by every one's generosity!  The "Spitfire" even found it in her heart to return to lend aide and assistance . You got to Love her!   Now let me say...even with the need of help I didn't want  anyone not to run,  but the gestures were more than heartfelt.
Saturday morning broke with a temperature of 11 degrees at 6 am.  My first help arrived around 8 and rest soon followed.  It seems this winter has been rough on my friends...for they were a band of walking wounded.  Noses and knees  took their toll.  Barring further injury the gang chipped in and became a well oiled volunteer machine!  I want to thank Joe, Andi, Anieta, George,  Susan, Butch and Mike for lending  their support. To the "Spitfire" my love and gratitude for everything!  
To my 21 participants who braved  a 19 degree starting temperature and "gentle rolling" hills a big thanks!
To my late runner, who started 10 minutes behind and still knocked off 8 runners..impressive!  I hope everyone enjoyed the Aloha spirit I tried to invoke.  I hope  everyone had a laugh, a full belly and I know tired legs while at the OFG's lair.   If you enjoyed yourself please come back  for race #10 in September. Bring a friend or send out a kind word for an OFG race. I applaud each and all of you!

Till meet again...shuffle on friends!

New Year... Same Old Me

Stepping into the new year is like being born again.  There 's a new somewhat refreshing attitude about starting fresh. Taking your first step into your first run. Making that first mile..two..three..you get it.
The difference between your last run of the year and the first run of the new year is like aging and being reincarnated.  After a year of training and racing, the steady grind and lifes' little hurdles you may feel (like me) well...ugh..OLD!  Like a grumpy old man it's time to take stock of the old year. Time to take pride in your accomplishments and lay blame for your failures. Where do I stand, why did I do that, where am I going? Can I even call myself a runner when I ran less than ever before?!  Look deep inside and you might find the answers. All in all though 2010 was pretty good.
Now with the birth of the new year it's time to pop our heads out, get on our feet and take our first strides in life in '011. New goals and adventures await. Maybe a first marathon? A first time race...a new job...a new attitude...it feels anything is possible in the chilly first days of January 2011.
So friends get out there. Take those first teetering steps. Start the year anew. Life  is good. Want a first race of the year?  Come run the "Freeze your snowballs Off 10k on the 22nd!
Shuffle on friends!